Awake

In the United States, 1 in every 700 people who undergo surgery will experience ‘Anesthetic Awareness’, a state in which the anesthesia fails to fully put the patient to sleep and victims may be able to hear conversations between doctors and in severe cases, feel the pressure and pain of surgery. This occurrence is the basis for the new thriller/drama film, Awake. Written and directed by Joby Harold and starring Hayden Christensen (Star Wars), Jessica Alba (Sin City, Fantastic Four), Lena Olin (Enemies: A Love Story), and Terrance Howard (Ray, Crash, Hustle & Flow).

Clay Beresford (Christensen) is a young, wealthy businessman in love with his mother’s (Olin) personal assistant Sam (Alba). Clay suffers from a heart condition and must undergo a heart transplant surgery, preformed by his best friend Dr. Jack Harper (Howard), to save his life. However, the anesthesia fails to render him unconscious and leaves him paralyzed but aware of what is happening and of the pain of surgery.

Clay manages to escape the pain in the form of an out-of-body experience and is horrified to discover a sinister plot against his life, while Sam (who is by now his wife) must battle her own demons on the outside.

Awake is an original, compelling story with good acting and an excellent screenplay. I personally was weary about seeing this movie since my mom picked it and usually the movies she picks are… Well, that’s another story. However, I am happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised by just how good this movie is. I definitely hope to see it again soon. This movie is a must-see for anyone who loves thrillers, medical dramas, or is just looking for a fun time at the movies.